Rutherford clearing hurdles faster than expected

Chris Rutherford has warm memories of the time he and his older brothers swiped old campaign signs from the side of the road and used them as hurdles in his yard.
"I was in fifth grade when we held our own Olympics in the neighborhood," Rutherford said. "We set up the political signs in the yard like hurdles and used them to race. My brothers were faster, but I was one of the better hurdlers. It was a lot of fun."
The Monmouth University freshman never had more fun racing than those carefree days as a youngster growing up in Toms River -- until this past weekend at the Northeast Conference track & field championships.
Despite miserable, rain-soaked conditions, Rutherford won two events, taking the 110 hurdles in 14.67 and the 400 hurdles in 52.58, to help Monmouth win the NEC team title. Rutherford's performance earned him two major awards, the Most Outstanding Track Performer and the Most Outstanding Rookie of the NEC meet held on his home track in Long Branch.
"It was the most fun I ever had going down the backstretch of the 400 hurdles," said Rutherford, who crossed in front of freshman classmate Stevenson Cajuste for a 1-2 team finish. Rutherford's time was the 12th-fastest by a freshman in the country this year.
"His personal best going into that race was 53.16, and that was under ideal conditions," Monmouth sprints and hurdles coach Brian Hirshblond said. "The plan was to have him get his rhythm for the first 200 and then pick his spot. He was in fourth place and we all did a double-take seeing what he could do under those conditions."
Rutherford appeared to be oblivious to his potential until Monmouth coach Joe Compagni pointed to the All-America banners hanging in the gym.
"A couple weeks ago, I told him there was still room for his name up there," Compagni said. "That got him interested in what he had to do to make All-America someday. I found out how gutsy a competitor he was before the conference indoor championships. There was a bug going around campus and he was sick for two weeks before the meet. But there was no way he was going to skip the meet. He finished second in the 60 hurdles and also ran an IC4A qualifying time in the 500."
Hirshblond's plan in the 400 hurdles was to slow Rutherford down in order to speed him up. He had Rutherford watch film of Bernshaw Jackson, the U.S. bronze medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the event.
"He was trying to go out too fast and too strong," Hirshblond said. "He was rushing himself to each hurdle. He needed to build a smooth and steady step pattern. Now he's realizing he can relax and run a smooth first part of the race and then put together a surge at the end.
"It's very difficult to keep the same steps through each hurdle, which is what Bernshaw Jackson does. As Chris' confidence builds, he's been getting more aggressive. He's just staring to realize how good he can be. He's going to get better and better."
Rutherford's coaches are hardly worried that the freshman's recent success will go to his head.
"Whenever someone asks me how I did, I always say 'pretty good,' '' Rutherford said. "I always know I can do better."